Tag: Social »

Whether someone is musically inclined or not, there's a good chance they've dabbled in its creation at least once in their lifetime. Of course it's never easy to put something that sounds good together when you have zero experience, but Chillingo's new freemium social music creation/sharing game, Zya is looking to change that. I had the pleasure of checking out a hands-off demo at EA's recent Holiday Showcase, and I have to say I came away impressed despite my initial skepticism.

Each song you can create is made up of different parts - such as a guitar, drums, vocals, and background vocals for example. You can tweak each section to your liking by selecting various band members who each produce a unique sound, giving them different instruments which also produce unique sounds, then choosing to either use the default samples or create your own. If you decide to create your own you can tap out drum beats or even record your own vocals, then add effects until they sound just right. It's worth noting that there are different characters for different musical genres, and it's entirely possible (and even encouraged) to mix them all up to create some truly unique tunes. It's all cloud-based too, so new game content such as extra songs and characters can be dropped in almost instantly.

You'll have access to a single genre pack of your choosing (pop, rock, etc) from the start, and can purchase additional characters, instruments, microphones, and so on using points earned through creating songs and sharing your tracks with the world. It's even possible to have Zya create and post a YouTube video of your performance. Licensed music is also available, and can be altered just as much as everything else, but require an in-app purchase to unlock. Not surprising given that it's licensed music, really. Still, being able to remix popular songs and share them so easily is a pretty cool concept.

Zya will be out this December.

Ever run into a stranger you shared a "moment" with? Where you had a special connection but then went your separate ways, never to speak again? Well, WeHadAMoment is an app that enables users to find that person they shared a moment with. All users need to do is enter the information of that moment and then hope for the best.

Now go create some more moments and begin sharing them!

Ready to get a little social? Powerslyde is here to help you in your quest. Just take a look at these five top recommended apps this week:

Instagram
Ban.jo
Appgrooves
Kik Messsenger
AroundMe

Remember when it was just Facebook and Twitter? No, me either. Anyway, if you don't know what Instagram is, I'm amazed you're reading this article. As for Ban.jo and AroundMe, I'll forgive you for not knowing about these social networks that incorporate happenings, events, and locations nearby a-la Yelp or FourSquare.

An interesting inclusion this week is AppGrooves which, like Powerslyde, recommends other apps to its users. And then there's Kik Messenger, which claims to be the fastest messaging app out there. Is it? I don't know, as there's a glut of messaging apps out there, including Apple's own iMessage.

Ok...deep breath...do you feel properly socialized now? Good. Join us next week for another installment of the ongoing app popularity saga. Thanks to Powerslyde, the app that leverages your friends' app recommendations, for this week's list. What apps do you recommend? Drop us a comment below, or send us a message on Facebook or Twitter. See you next week!

Next Sentence is a social writing game that lets two players create entertaining stories by taking turns writing short sentences. The game reveals a title for the story to begin and it's up to the players to fill in the rest. However, both players will never see each other's full sentence which can lead to unique and unpredictable stories.

Next Sentence is available for $1.99, allowing players to play with others online. There is also a free version that only works in pass-and-play situations.

What exactly is Klamr and what does it do? Basically, it makes getting together with friends as easy and painless as technology will allow. At least until we get teleporters.

Klamr combines messaging, planning, and sharing into a single app. You can send word to your friends about your plans (including SMS notifications to non-users), swap photos, set up several options for places to hang out/eat/whatever and give everyone a chance to weigh in, and even pull up Yelp reviews of various spots.

Wrangling folks for dinner should be a cinch now!

Features
- Free messaging: one-to-one or in groups
- Free notifications: to all Klamr accounts
- Nobody is left out: SMS notifications to non-Klamr users
- Private: messages and plans can only be accessed by close friends and family
- Share photos: while chatting and enjoying your get-togethers
- Create multiple Ideas: chat about where and when to hang out next
- Find the perfect and most popular places: from our specially-curated venue database as well as adding your own
- Ratings and reviews: from Yelp, Foursquare and Facebook